///My Father's War

My Father’s War

Presented by Ponder Anew

Mission

Through performances of the highest quality, post show discussions, and creative workshops, to honor and serve our veterans and to help our communities process the social and cultural effects of war with integrity, in an honest and responsible manner.

On July 4, 1989 Lieutenant Herschel Ponder wrote to his three daughters, "I had a sudden urge to tell you about my war, World War II - and the subsequent coping - my peace. After 45 years, some of the events are as vivid as ever...There is no fiction in what is to follow. If my memory is in error, the margin is slight. Dad..."

Lt. Ponder, Carol's father, was born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1922. At the age of 20, after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew 51 missions in his beloved P-47 Thunderbolt in Europe. His memoir was written in his storytelling voice - droll, sincere, and cruelly straightforward. It is warm, funny, tragic, and poignant by turns.

Carol and Robert have crafted a performance from the memoir, lacing it with songs from the period and traditional songs from the family's Appalachian Mountains.

It is a beautiful production that evokes the essence of war and warriors: their victories, sacrifices, loyalty and love for each other, and the sweet pain of coming home. It was premiered as part of the The Hermitage Artist Retreat Series in the Historic Asolo Theater, Sarasota, Florida. The audience response from veterans, their families and friends, and other people from every walk of life has been tremendous.

The discussions after the show, an integral part of the performance, are always rich with shared experience.

Hearing his words of war and peace, presented with his family's perspective always present, is a powerful catalyst that inspires others to acknowledge and open up about their own experiences. Supported by members of the military, psychologists, clergy, educators, and a growing audience of new friends and fans, Carol and Robert hope to perform Ponder Anew - along with healing creative workshops for veterans, their families, and communities - as widely as possible.

For booking information and to find out more about My Father's War, please go to the Contact page or email us at carol@carolandrobert.com

To make a secure, online, tax-deductible contribution to support the mission of Ponder Anew including FREE FOR VETERANS shows and workshops, please go to HERE.

///Donate Now to My Father&#039;s War

To make a secure, online, tax-deductible contribution to support My Father's War,including performances and workshops FREE for veterans, please go HERE.

///Praise for My Father's War

...the words and music flow like honey from this presentation.

-Evans Donnell

Review, ArtsNash

My Father's War engages the heart and mind with humor, beauty, and a deep humanity. It is healing and cathartic for veterans and community members.

-Pamela Mumby

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practioner

My Father's War has an integrity in which we can honor our veterans and find the healing from war that is too little offered in our culture.

-Todd Donatelli

Dean at The Cathedral of All Souls, Asheville, NC

///My Father's War Newsletter

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Email Address

///Book My Father's War in your hometown.

There are several things you can do to help us bring My Father's War to you, wherever you live.

Organizations who serve veterans: Find these in your area. We do FREE performances and workshops for veterans. Find local sponsors. It's an opportunity for them to give back to our veterans - and we'll thank them profusely in all media (and you, too)!

Performance venues of any kind: The musical storytelling experience of My Father's War works in venues of any size, from coffee houses to thousand-seat theaters.

Churches, synagogues, other places of worship: Invite us to perform in your place of worship. We will perform for donations.

Schools: Grades 6-12 through higher education: My Father's War and workshops are tailor-made for schools, arts integration, and multi-department collaboration. Carol is an award-winning, nationally recognized Teaching Artist with almost 30 years experience.

Reenactments,Festivals, Conferences:My Father's War makes a terrific, meaningful event for gatherings focused on remembering, honoring, and helping those who have served in any generation.

For all of these, please introduce us to the folks in charge and tell them we're the real deal. We will travel anywhere we can find the support to make it happen! Thank you for helping us do this good work.

///Thank you to Potts Marketing

For all your marketing needs, go to pottsmarketing.com. They specialize in video production, graphic design, and PR. Tom Potts and his incredible crew filmed My Father's War at the Dugger Mountain Music Hall, creating beautiful DVDs of the show, still photographs, and the video on YouTube.